Waterproof flashlight switch



April 5; 1949. J. A. Gn's ET AL 2,466,414

` WATERPROOF FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed April 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 5, 1949. J. A. Gn's ET AL,

WATERPROOF FLASHLIGHT SWITCH 5 Sheets-Shea t 2 Filed April 19, 1946 WWW www

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i WATERPROOF FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed April 19, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED S'iAThfi iTiNT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Joseph fl.. @its and Jules E. Gits, Chicago, Ill.

Applica-tien April 19, 1946, Serial No. 63,521

lll Claims. 1

This application relates to flashlights and more particularly to watertight flashlights.

The invention is directed particularly to an improved watertight connection between the casing of the flashlight and the external switch mechanism for opening and closing the electrical circuit.

Flashlights are portable lights including a casing adapted to hold one or more electric cells within it. At one end thereof there is a bulb and reflector combination along with a ring for holding the bulb and reflector within the casing, and at the other end there is a cap for closing the casing and holding the cells therein. Electric conductors are arranged within the casing so as to contact the cells at one end and to contact some other part of the flashlight mechanism to complete an electric circuit, usually the reflector. To operate the flashlight, contacts are electrically associated with the conductors inside of the casing, the contacts being brought out through the casing whereby the circuit may be completed externally. Since the contacts pass through the casing, it is desirable that they be sealed in some manner so that water, for example, will not penetrate the casing at the contacts, and furthermore, in order to prevent short circuiting thereof, it is desirable that water be kept away from the contacts where they are external of the casing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved watertight flashlight in which contacts are brought through the flashlight casing and are sealed to the outside so that any external substance is prevented from entering the flashlight casing where the contacts penetrate it, and is prevented from coming into contact with the contacts while still permitting the contacts to be operated externally of the flashlight casing.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved external contact operating mechanism.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a casing and conductors inside thereof for connection to a source of current are provided. A continuous ridge extends outwardly from the exterior of the casing to define a well, and contacts are arranged to project into the well from the inside of the casing for completing a circuit exteriorly thereof between electric conductors interiorly thereof. A water impermeable membrane overlies the top of the ridge and extends along its exterior sides, and a rigid cap having sides depending therefrom overlies the membrane and tightly holds it against the top and exterior sides of the ridge in a watertight relation. Means are associated with the cap for operating the contacts through the membrane. More particularly, a switch mechanism for a ashlight is provided which comprises in Combination a pair of contacts, a resilient member in fixed electrical contact with one of the contacts and overlying the other of the contacts in a non-electrical contact position, a depressible member, and a slidable member having an inoperative position and a pair of operative positions. A pair of means on the slide for engaging the depressible meme ber are provided along with a push button member overlying one of the pair of means. Barrier means are arranged between the slide and the depressible member so that in the inoperative position of the slide, both of the pair of means are blocked from contacting the depressible member, the push button member in the rst of the operative positions of the slide member being effective to intermittently move one o-f the pair of means into contact with the depressible member, and in the second of the operative positions of the slide member the other of the pair of means is in continuous :contact with the depressible member.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the flashlight embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 2 illustrating the position of the parts when the switch is in off-position;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the parts when the switch is in signaling position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the parts when the switch is in on-position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken substantially along lines -'l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 8-8 of Fig, 4;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 9 9 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. l0 is an exploded perspective View of the parts comprising the flashlight switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the invention is shown embodied in a flashlight comprising a casing S including a barrel portion I and a head I I extending at right angles thereto, the barrel being of generally cylindrical shape having a diameter and a length to accommodate the desired number of electrical cells I2, of which two are shown (Fig. 2 only) for purposes of illustration. The casing 9 is made of water impermeable material, such for example as any plastic product suitable for the purpose such as ethyl or acetate cellulose, and may be formed by injection molding, for example, to include :corrugations I3 on the exterior of the casing providing a rm gripping surface. At the end of the casing, opposite to the head i I, there is a circumierential flange Ill to the right of which the casing is provided with a plurality of external threads I5. A hollow cap I6, which may also be made by injection molding of a material similar to that of casing 9, is provided with interior threads I5a for cooperation with exterior threads I5 to screw the cap I6 on the casing. To assure that the connection between :casing 9 and cap iE is watertight, a gasket Il is arranged to lie against one side of flange I4, the edge of cap I6 having a pointed circular ridge I3 which bites into gasket I'I when cap it is tightly screwed on. Furthermore, the surfaces of the threads I5 on the casing bear against corresponding surfaces of threads Ia in cap I6 so that by tightly screwing the cap I6 on the casing, a further watertight connection is provided.

The cap EG, being hollow, may conveniently receive a U-shaped member l@ which slips inside thereof and has a spring bracket 2l attached i'or holding a spare bulb 22. The U-shaped member I9 is held within cap l by means of a conical spring 23, the lower coil of which bears relatively tightly against the inside of the cap ifi at the end of the threads 55d, the spring 23 also being used to complete the electrical circuit with one end of one of the cells i2 as is well understood.

The angular head il or the flashlight has a series of external threads and to cooperate with these threads to hold the ring Eil to the casing, the ring has internal threads Ella. An inwardly projecting ledge 2li extends around ring and holds a crystal or face 2l to the casing. The ring 25 may be made of plastic material by injection molding and the crystal 2 may be made of any suitable clear material which is unbreakable in character. Thus the rlashlight casing including the crystal 2l is of a durable character and maybe dropped on hard surfaces without chipping or cracking.

A reflector 28, of any desired shape, is adapted to be held in the angular portion il and has a series of threads .29 at one end, into which a sleeve or bushing 3I is threaded for holding a bulb 32 attached to the reflector. Thus the reflector and bulb comprise a single assembly. The reector includes a rim 33 which in the assembled form of the flashlight lies against a washer 3ft, the Washer in turn bearing against one edge of head II. A washer 35 lies against the outer side of rim 33 and is in turn contacted by the crystal 21 so that when ring 25 is screwed onto head II, a watertight connection is formed by the washers, the threads 24 and 2da binding against each other to increase the effectiveness of the watertight connection.

At the junction of angular head i l and the casing proper inside thereof, there is an integrally formed bridging member 36 to which a resilient contact member 3'I is attached at its center at one end by means of a rivet or similar element 33, the rivet forming a contact for one of the cells i2 as shown best Fig. 2. The other end of resilient member 3l contacts the exposed end ci bulb 32, forming part of the electrical circuit within 'the flashlight. Conductors ftd and 4I, made ci flat conducting strips, for example, are attached to the inside of the casing and lie within a channel formed by two integrally molded ridges d2 and i3 extending inwardly from the inside of the casing, the conductor 4I being attached at one en d to the casing by means of a rivet lill. The rivet ftd also connects this conductor to an annular shell t5 tting within the end of the flashlight casing, the shell l5 having a rim as shown which contacts the largest convolution oi spring 23 thereby to contact one end oi' one of the cells i2. The conductor extends in the opposite direction to that of conductor il and is attached to the casing by means oi rivets and ill. At the forward end ci conductor t9 there is a ledge or shelf 13S provided on the casing for supporting the conductor, and the conductor is provided with a resilient right angularly extending portion lill for engaging the rerlector 23. At the rear of the head Il a bracket or clip 5I is attached such as by riveting, for example, so that the flashlight may be clipped to a carrying belt.

As thus lar described, the flashlight casing is one which is oi` a watertight character and may therefore be immersed in water for long periods of time without effecting the operation thereof.

The conductors 39 and il have their inner ends arranged adjacent each other, the conductor 4I being further attached to the casing by means of a rivet 52. rhe rivets l5 and iii. extend completely through the casing wall, and in order that the heads of these rivets may not bite into the casing wall and injure it, these rivets also extend through a reinforcing strip which serves as a surface over which the heads of the rivets are formed.

Surrounding rivets d and 52 and the reinforcing strip 53, there is a continuous ridge 54 of generally rectangular shape which is integrally formed with the outer wall of the flashlight casing and extends outwardly therefrom as shown. The inner surface or" continuous ridge 54 denes a well or depression i in which the external contacts of the ashlight electrical circuit are maintained. The top surface of the continuous ridge il@ is flat and the outer side walls 56 are curved outwardly as shown for a purpose to be described. In order to seal the well 5@ in a watertight manner, a water impermeable membrane ill is arranged to overlie ridge 5d along the top surface 55 as well as along the side surfaces the membrane 5l' covering the space inside oi ridge 5d. The membrane may be made of any water impermeable substance such as rubber or rubber substitutes, for example.

Inside of well il@ and attached to the casing at one end by means of rivet 52 is a resilient or spring member @d biased outwardly from insulating strip 53. At the other end oi' resilient member there is a contact 65 for cooperation with one end of rivet de to close the electrical circuit between conductors 39 and 4I when resilient member tl is depressed. Normally contact E5 is not in engagement with the Ihead of rivet 46 by virtue or the fact that the resilient member 54 is biased outwardly. The member' 64 together with the outer end of rivet it lying inside of membrane 5l are completely sealed from the outside as will become clear.

Ametallic capll of generally rectangular shape corrugations I3 for holding the slide in one of similar to thatl of ridge 54 has a top surface till its three positions. Depending downwardly from and depending side walls forming a skirt ill eX- the front end or" slide 'l2 is a ledge 83 for cooperatending below top surface 5, the skirt cl curvtion with `angular portion @l of resilient member ing outwardly with a curvature similar to that 5 ce to actuate the flashlight contacts in one posiof outer side walls tit and forming a substantially `tion of slide l2. Also projecting downwardly adrigid structure. The skirt 6! is slightly larger jacent the forward end of slide 'l2 is a resilient than the outer periphery of ridge Eil, so that in tongue iid which may be formed by stamping a the assembled condition of the flashlight when suitable portion out of slide l2 followed by a membrane 5l is placed so as to overlie ridge 10 proper bending operation. The tongue Sil resillwith portions thereof extending downwardly ly biases the ledge S3 out of contact closed along outer side walls 5t and cap is placed s0 position in the signaling position of slide l2, and as to overlie membrane 5l, and is tightly held to it acts to hold ongularly extending POTOYI m in the casing by means of rivets 652 and lili, i r exconstantly closed Contact operating position in ample, the skirt 5l forces membrane lll' tightly 15 ori-'position of the slide. In order to depress ledge against outer `curved Walls 5o of the ridge The during signaling opera ion of the flashlight, the curved surfaces of skirt ll, as cap is forced push button is arranged to move in the opendownwardly, bind the water impermeable memn ing the push button i3 being a cylindrical cup Lved member havn ger in diameter than brane tightly against ridge surfaces to form a watertight connection. In addition, the top sur- 20 lai face 59 forces membrane 5l against top surface the cup member is maintained in this opening. 55 of the ridge also to form a tight seal. r- The slide lil is moved bacia and forth by thumbring to Figs. 5, and 6, and to Fig. 9, it will be piece Til rrhe thunibpiece ifi is a cup shaped seen that skirt di cooperates with the surfaces member h ng corrugations along its sur- 55 `to form the watertight connection at all points giving a :good L.f3-ip thereto` is provided around ridge In the foregoing manner, water fla qses il@ extending around the or any other substance is prevented from passing to form a good sliding surinto well 5D. of shell li. The thumbpiece rIhe top surface E@ of cap provided with f is fo vided .vith downwardly extendan opening 66 through which one end tl of a resilient member SS projects, as shown best in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the other end of member attached to top surface 555 by means of a rivet 1de to Ireceive tongues Si.

. The tongues ill bent around slide hold the The resilient member t8 extends along unie A up-'i aidly extendird tongue in one of corrugaside of surface the end i'l projecting when the thumbpiece is moved through opening lili and being bent angul back forth, the slide is also moved back and wardly as shown. forth.

Adapted to lie on top of cap the enter:= The assembly of the contact operating mechaoperating mechanism for the flashlight nism will be clear by considering Fig. 4 and Fig. and includes a shell a slide a pu lil, for example. The push button "i3 is inserted and rb umbpieee rit, The Snell il into opening il followed by placing in position ally rectangular in shape having of i2 with the tongue 52 projecting into one pending side walls lli, and a top i. of the corrugatons and the tongue i3d extendoperates with top surface 59 to form a e vi ing downwardly. The thumbpiece 'Nl is placed in in which the slide 'l2 is adapted to move. a position overlying cap il with the tongues 81 ing at right angles and outwardly from the ei d projecting through slots "i9, after which the portions of side walls are the tongueo ano. tongum are bent around the slide l2 within cut- Which are provided with holes to receive respecout portions Following these steps of astively the rivets E52 and lill for attaching shell 'll sembling, the shell 'i l is placed in position overas well as metallic cap ed to the flashlight hous- 5o lying `and the rivets `t2 and t3 are placed ing. As shown best Fig. 9, side walls lll of through the registering openings in the various shell l! bear directly on top of cap Sil so that members and are riveted over. The portion of there is acontinuous pressure exerted downwardrive inside 0f CSlg l@ DELSSGS 'Uhl'Ollgh an ly on cap 5ft at every point a-round the periphery, opening in conductor ill, is insulated therefrom even though only two rivets are used each 55 by means of gasket @il So that the metallic P01'- d in form tions of cap 5F, and shell l'l do not complete the end and since cap lid is substantially i there is uniform contact of the slsnt ci against electrical circuit of conductors 3Q and All, the membrane lill and hence of the membrane washer 'lil being provided to prevent the head of side walls Thus the seal of well from the rivet from slipping through gasket Eil.

outside is made more effective. @0 The operation of the mechanism may best be Referring to Fig. lo, the top` "ril-i of shell is provided with three corrugations lengthwise extending slots l@ portion of shell lil. -adjacent he for tion of the shell there is a circular The corrugations 'l and the slots "l known 8d is in Contact with the top surface 59 of cap 58, manner such as by stamp. for efrledge il-El is in a position so that when push ample. button is depressed ledge 33 also comes into The slide 'l2 is a generally recta"uien1 "rf 'New' 70 contact with the top surface 59. Accordingly, somewhat narrower in width and si orter n the 130D SUIHC@ 555 may be emed a barrier length than the inside of shellii, so as to be 4ily to prevent operation of the flashlight. In the movable back and forth, an upwardly extending second. or posiL of the operating resilient tongue lill being formed adjacent th mechanism, shown in Fig. 5, the thumbpiece rear portion thereof to engage with one oV 75 74 has been pushed forwardly so that tongue 82 is in the second or middle one of corrugations '18. Then ledge 83 overlies angularly extending portion @1 while the tongue 84 is still in contact with top surface 59. In this position when push button "it is depressed, ledge 83 cornes into contact with angularly extending portion t] thereby depressing this member, claus ing the resilient member GS to move away from top surface 5d and exert a closing force on resilient member 6ft through the membrane 51, thereby effecting engagement of the Contact 65 and the rivet d@ to close the circuit between conductors 3&2* and lll. The force exerted by member S8, through membrane 5l, is at right angles to the membrane and hence there is no sliding Wear thereof. When the push button i3 is released, resilient tongue E4? causes ledge 83 to move upwardly, and the push button i3 to move outwardly. At the same time, the resilience of member dii causes this member to assume its original position, whereupon resilient member 6d biases the contact out of engagement with rivet d6. Accordingly, an intermittent operation of the Flashlight is obtained by depressing and releasing the push button i3.

In the third position oi the Contact operating mechanism, shown in Fig. S, the thumbpiece 'ifi has been moved forwardly so that the tongue d2 is in the third one of corrugations l. In this position oi slide the tongue fl has moved forwardly and has moved up onto angular portion 61 of member til. The resilience of tongue 8d combined with the angularly extending portion lil' creates a downward force on resilient member t8, causing this member to close contact 65 and rivet i6 into a constantly closed condition. Depressing push button will cause ledge 83 to move into Contact with angular portion 5l, but this produces no additional operative effect. The thumbpiece id is slidable in either direction and to move slide 'l2 to either the iirst or second positions, it is only necessary to move thumbpiece 'lli rearwardly.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so -fully explain the gist of our invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to us by the following claims.

We claim:

l. In an article of the class described, a casing, conductors inside of said casing for connection to a source of current adapt-ed to be disposed insideof said casing, a continuous ridge extending outwardly from the exterior o said casing and defining a well, contacts in said well for completing a circuit exteriorly oi said casing between said conductors interior of said casing, a water impermeable membrane overlying the top oi said ridge and extending along the exterior sidesthereo-i, a rigid cap having a top and sides depending therefrom overlying said membrane and vtightly holding said membrane against the top and exterior sides oi said ridge in a waterproof relation, and means extending through the top of l said cap for operating said contacts through said membrane.

2. Inan article oi the class described, a casing, conductors inside of said casino' for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, a continuous ridge extending outwardly kfrom the exterior of said casing and defining a well, contacts in said Well for completing a circuit exteriorly of said casing between said conductors interior of said casing, a water impermeable membrane overlying said ridge, a rigid cap having a top and depending anges for tightly holding said membrane -against the top and sides of said ridge in a waterproof relation, and means extending through the top of said cap i'or operating said contacts through said membrane.

3. In an article of the class described, a casing, conductors inside of said casing for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said* casing, a continuous ridge having angularly depending sides extending outwardly from the exterior of said casing and defining a well, contacts in said well for completing a circuit exteriorly of said casing between said conductors interior or" said casing, a water impermeable membrane overlying the top of said ridge and extending along said angularly depending sides, a rigid cap having a top and angularly depending ilanges overlying said' membrane, said top tightly holding said membrane against the top oi' said ridge, said angularly depending flanges forcing said membrane against the angularly depending sides of said ridge, thereby to form a watertight seal over said well, and means extending through the top of said cap for operating said contacts through said membrane.

4, In an article of the class described, a casing, conductors inside of said casing for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, a continuous ridge having exterior angularly depending sides integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the exterior of said casing, said ridge delining a well, contacts in said well for completing a circuit exteriorly of said casing between said conductors interior of said casing, a water impermeable membrane overlying the top of said ridge and lying along said' exterior angularly depending sides, a rigid cap having a top and angularly depending sides overlying membrane, said top tightly holding said membrane against the top of said ridge, said angular-ly depending sides forcing said membrane against the depending sides of said ther sy to form a water-tight seal over said well, and means extending through the top of said cap for operating said contacts through said membrane.

5. In an article of the class described, a casing, conductors inside oi said casing for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, a continuous ridge having exterior angularly depending sides integrally formed with and extending outwardly from the exterior of said casing, said ridge defining a well, contacts in said well for completing a circuit exteriorly oi said' casing between said conductors interior of said casing, a Water impermeable membrane overlying the top oi said ridge and lying along said exterior angularly depending sides, a housing having a downwardly angularly depending ilange overlying said' membrane, said angularly depending flange forcing said membrane against the depending sides of said ridge, thereby to form a watertight seal over said well, and pressure exerting means in said housing for operating said contacts through said membrane.

6. In an article of the class described, a waterprooi casing, conductors inside of said casing connected to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside or said casing, said conductors 9 having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said' casing, a normally open spring contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed' to contact the other of said terminals, a switch housing arranged over said contacts, a three position slide having two Contact actuating means in said housing, a barrier between said two Contact actuating means contacts, and a push button overlying said slide, in one position of said slide both of said contact actuating means being blocked by said barrier, in a second position of said slide one of said contact actuating means being in a position to actuate said spring contact only when the push button is depressed and in a third' position the second of said contact actuating means maintains said spring contact permanently closed.

'7. in an article of the class described, a waterproof casing, conductors inside thereof for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, said conductors having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said casing, a normally open spring contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed to contact the other of said terminals, a switch housing arranged' over said contacts one wall of which forms a barrier, a spring contact actuating member attached to the underside of said barrier, a three position slide inside of said housing, slide including two actuating means, and a push button extending through said housing and overlying said slide, in one position of said slide both of said actuating means being blocked by said barrier, in a second position of said slide one of said actuating means being in a position to eiect actuation of said' contact actuating means only when the push button is depressed and in a third position the second of said actuating means maintains said contact actuating means in permanently closed contact position.

8. In an article of the class described, a waterproof casing, conductors inside thereof for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, said conductors having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said casing, a normally open spring contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed to contact the other ci said terminals, a switch housing arranged over said contacts, one wall of said housing forming a barrier, another wall of said housing having three stops arranged thereon, a three position slide having two contact actuating means and a stop engaging member in said housing, and a push button overlying said slide, in one position of said slid-e the stop engaging member engages one of said stops and both oi said contact actuating means are blocked by said barrier, in a second position of said slide the stop engaging member engages a second one oi said stops and one oi" said' contact actuating means is in a position to actuate said spring contact only when the push button is depressed, and in a third position oi said slide said stop engaging means engages the third of said stops and the second' of said conta-ct actuating means maintains said spring contact constantly closed.

9. In an article of the class described, a waterproof casing, conductors inside thereof for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, said conductors having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said casing, a normally open `spring contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed to Contact the other of said terminals, a switch housing arranged over said spring contact, one wall of said housing forming a barrier, a spring Contact actuating member attached to the underside of said barrier, aneth wall of said housing having three stops arranged thereon, a three position slide having two contact actuating means and a stop engaging member in said housing, and a push button overlying slide, in one position of said slide the stop engaging member engages one of said stops and both of said contact actuating means are blocked by said barrier, in a second position of said slide the stop engaging member engages a second of said stops and one of said contact actuating means is in a position to actuate said spring contact only when the push button is depressed, and in a third position of said slide said stop engaging means engages a third of said stops and the second of said contact actuating means maintains said spring Contact constantly closed.

10. in an article of the class described, a waterproof casing, conductors inside thereof for connection to a source oi current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, said conductors having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said casing, a normally open spring Contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed to contact the other of said terminals, a switch housing arranged over said contacts, one wall of said hou-sing forming a barrier, another wall of said housing having three stops arranged thereon, a three position slide having a stop engaging member, actuating means and resilient member urging said contact actuating means to an inactive position, a spring Contact actuating member attached to the underside of said barrier, a push button overlying said slide, in one position of said slide the stop engaging member engages one of said stops and said actuating means is blocked by said barrier, in a seco-nd position of said slide said stop engaging member engages another of said stops and said actuating means is in a position to cause said spring Contact actuating member to close said normally open spring contact against the biasing force of said resiiient member only when said push button is depressed, and in a third position of said slide the stop engaging means engages a third of said stops and said resilient member holds said spring contact actuation member to effect constant closure of said normally open spring contact.

ll. In an article of the class described, a waterproof casing, conductors inside thereof for connection to a source of current adapted to be disposed inside of said casing, said conductors having ends thereof adjacent each other, terminals in electrical association with said adjacent ends and extending through said casing, a reinforcing strip externally of said casing for holding one of the ends of each of said terminal-s spaced from said casing, a normally open spring contact on the outside of said casing attached to one of said conductors by one of said terminals and adapted when closed to contact the other of said terminals, a switch housing arranged over said conu tacts, one wall of said housing forming a bar rier, another wall of said housing having three stops arranged thereon, a three position slide having a stop engaging member, a contact actuating means and a resilient member urging said contact actuating means to an inactive position, and a push button overlying said slide, in one position of said slide the `stop engaging member engages one of said stops and said contact actuating means is blocked by said barrier, in a second position of said slide said stop engagingmember engages another of said stops and said contact actuating means is in a position to actuate said spring contact against the biasing force of said resilient member only when said push button is depressed, and in a third position of said slide the stop engaging means engages a, third of said stops and said resilient member holds said spring contact constantly closed.

12. Switch mechanism for a ashlight comprising in combination, a pair of contacts, a resil.. ient member in Xed electrical relation with one of said contacts and overlying the other contact in non-contact relation, a depressible member, a slidable member disposed over said depressible member, said slidable member having a plurality i of positions and being movable to eiect actuation of said depressible member whereby to move said resilient member into contact with said other contact, a pair of means on said slide for engaging said depressible member, and means to effect depression also of said slidable member when in a position where one of said pair of means is engageable with said depressible member, the other of said pair of means when in a position to engage said depressible member being eiifective to actuate said depressible member to effect a constant contact of said resilient member and said other contact.

13. Switch mechanism for a ashlight comprising in combination, a pair of contacts, a resilient member in fixed electrical relation with one of said contacts and overlying the other of said contacts in non-contact relation, a depressible member, a yslidable member having a plurality of positions and being movable to effect I manually depressible member overlying one of said pair of means, means in one position of said slide for preventing movement of both of said pair of means into contact with said depressible member when said manually depressible member is depressed, said manually depressible member in another position of ysaid slide being operative to move one of said pair of means into contact with said depressible member whereby to effect intermittent engagement of said resilient member and said other contact, in the third position of said slidable member the other of said pair of means effecting constant engagement of said resilient member and said contact.

14. Switch mechanism for a flashlight comprising in combination, a pair of contacts, a resilient member in Xed electrical relation with one of said contacts, and overlying the other of said contacts in non-electrical contact relation, a depressible member, a slidable member having an inoperative position and a pair of operative positions, a pair of means on said slide for engaging said depressible member, a manually depressible member overlying one of said pair of means, and barrier means in said inoperative position of said slide :blocking movement of both said pair of means into contact with said depressible member, said manually depressible member in the rst of the operative positions of said slide member being effective to move one of said pair of means into contact with said depressible member whereby to eiect intermittent engagement of said resilient member and said contact, and in the third position of said Islidable member the other of said pair of means eiTecting constant en gagement of said resilient member and said contact.

JOSEPH A. GITS. JULES P. GITS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 450,292 Johnston, Jr. Apr. 14, 1891 1,759,537 Buckbee May 20, 1930 1,774,722 Officer Sept. 2, 1930 1,981,213 Swierzynski Nov. 20, 1934 2,197,178 Gates Apr. 15, 1940 2,309,402 Korngold Jan. 26, 1943 2,408,393 Gits Oct. 1, 1946 2,418,759 Crimmins Apr, 8, 1947 2,429,158 Francis Oct. 14, 1947 

